July 2020

In Cool Climates

Help your winter veggies combat frosts or extreme cold by watering fortnightly with a seaweed solution. It’s not too pricey and works a treat.

Fruit trees – Without a doubt one of life’s little pleasures has to be crunching into an apple freshly picked off the tree. If you have ever wanted to grow a fruit tree or if you simply want another, winter is the perfect time to plant yourself a bare rooted fruit tree. With so many many grafted and dwarf varieties available there is guaranteed to be a tree for your orchard, courtyard or balcony.

Composting is noticeably slower at this time of year. Keep your compost well aerated to encourage beneficial microbes and disturb the homes of any unwanted rodents setting up home over winter. For bay composting consider covering during periods of extreme cold or rain, a tarpaulin will reduce the number of nutrients being washed away and create heat to speed up your pile.

What to sow or plant now

• Broadbeans – Sow direct
• Broccoli – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Cauliflower – Start in punnets under cover
• Kale – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Lettuce – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Onion – Start in punnets under cover
• Radish – Sow direct
• Rocket – Sow direct
• Silverbeet – Sow in punnets under cover
• Spinach – English Sow direct or in punnets under cover
• Sugar/Snow Peas – Sow direct

* Last chance to plant or sow

For Temperate Climates

Snails and Slugs – While the cooler weather is keeping many pests away snails and slugs are thriving in the cooler wetter weather. A simple and cost effective way to reduce excess numbers from your garden is to place a dish of beer half filled in problem areas.

If you are resting garden beds over winter, now would be a great time to add organic matter such as compost or composted horse manure, dig in and cover with a light mulch. Let sit for 6-8 weeks before planting your spring greens.

While the weather is still cool and growth minimal there is still time to prune fruit trees. Be sure to clean secateurs between each tree to stop the spread of disease.

What to sow or plant now

• Broccoli – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Beetroot – Sow direct
• Broadbeans – Sow direct
• Cabbage – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Carrots – Sow direct
• Coriander – Sow direct
• Kohlrabi – Sow direct
• Lettuce – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Mizuna – Sow direct
• Mustard Greens – Sow direct
• Onion – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Peas – Sow direct
• Radish – Sow direct
• Rocket – Sow direct
• Silverbeet – Sow direct
• Spinach – Sow direct, can be sown in punnets
• Turnip – Sow direct

* Last chance to plant or sow

Hot/Arid Climates

Any unused or dormant garden beds that will be used for spring or summer planting will benefit from the growing of a quick (6-7 week) green manure crop. Peas and legumes will fix nitrogen into the soil and mustard greens will help keep unwanted soil pests at bay. A great use of any old seed that you may have lying around. To maximise the amount of nutrient back into your soil ensure you cut down well before the emergence of any flowers or seeds.

Keep water up to rocket, mustard greens and lettuce. This will ensure a more abundant crop and reduce bitter leaves. A weekly dose of liquid fertiliser is highly beneficial.

What to sow or plant now

• Broccoli – Sow direct*, in punnets* or plant out seedlings
• Beetroot – Sow direct
• Cabbage – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Capsicum – Sow in punnets under cover
• Carrots – Sow direct
• Cauliflower – Plant out seedlings*
• Corn – Sow direct
• Kale – Sow direct*, in punnets* or plant out seedlings
• Kohlrabi – Sow direct* in punnets* or plant out seedlings
• Lettuce – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Leeks – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Mustard Greens – Sow direct
• Onion – Plant -Plant out seedlings
• Peas – Sow direct
• Radish – Sow direct
• Rocket – Sow direct
• Silverbeet – Sow direct*, in punnets* or plant out seedlings
• Turnip – Sow direct
• Herbs like Chives, Coriander, Dill and Sage  – Sow direct, OR, Thyme can be sown in punnets or plant out seedlings.

* Last chance to plant or sow

Tropical Climates

With dry weather in the tropics, ensure fruit bearing trees such as avocado, mango and custard apples receive regular water. This will help produce large and juicy fruit.

Cabbage moth is prevalent in warmer climates at this time of year. Cover brassicas and other affected greens with exclusion cloth or regularly inspect your plants and squish any white eggs or caterpillars.

You can improve drainage and quality of heavy clay soil by adding a good dose of gypsum now. Lightly fork in, cover with mulch and water in well, then leave for several weeks. Depending on levels of clay and compaction you may need to repeat.

What to sow or plant now

• Artichoke – Globe Sow direct
• Asian Greens – Sow direct
• Beans – Sow direct*
• Broccoli – Sow direct*, in punnets* or plant out seedlings
• Cabbage – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Capsicum – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Chilli – Sow in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Corn – Sow direct
• Cucumber – Sow direct
• Eggplant – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Kale – Sow direct* or plant out seedlings
• Lettuce (Loose Leaf) – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Leeks – Plant out seedlings*
• Luffa – Sow direct
• Mizuna – Sow direct
• Mustard Greens – Sow direct
• Okra – Sow direct
• Onion – Plant out seedlings*
• Pumpkin – Sow direct*, in punnets* or plant out seedlings*
• Radish – Sow direct
• Rocket – Sow direct*
• Rockmelon – Sow direct*
• Silverbeet – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Squash – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Tomato – Sow in punnets* or plant out seedlings
• Tomatillo  -Sow in punnets* or plant out seedlings
• Watermelon –  Sow direct*
• Warrigal Greens – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Zucchini – Sow direct in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Herbs like Chives, Coriander, Dill, Parsley and Sage – Sow direct, WHILE, Basil and Thyme – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings
• Pollinating Flowers like Borage – Sow direct, AND, Marigolds – Sow direct, in punnets or plant out seedlings

* Last chance to plant or sow